Lindsay

Not sure if Lyn takes on insurance cases (some insurance cases will only do APBC) but you could double check, if the dogs are insured? Or ask her for a recommendation elsewhere? A bad behaviourist is truly worse than none at all, that's the problem, which I'm sure you know anyway Good luck - it's hard to keep up with everything when money is tight.

One dog was rescued some weeks after being in a storm drain... http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...ow%3D1%26sa%3DN

Appeal for Brophy here: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Drain-...over.4475506.jp Poor lad - I am glad the little girl is safe but so hope the dog is safe too. What exactly is a storm drain? I guess it must be bigger than the drains in the street? So sad Edit to add: just googled Images for storm drain: http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&am...mages&gbv=2

An alternative behaviourist might be David Appleby http://www.apbc.org.uk/regions.php?region=staffs he has a very good reputation.

Ensure she goes to reputable puppy classes, try to choose from www.apdt.co.uk or www.puppyschool.co.uk . You don't want any where there is boisterous, free for all play, pups need to interact off lead but this should be with carefully chosen pups within the class Book up quickly as the spaces do go fast usually. Bad puppy class is worse than no puppy class. Lead walking - practise plenty at home, use food treats to lure along at first - as the chi will be tiny, you can use perhaps some tasty treat smeared on the back of a wooden spoon to avoid bending too much! Puppy class will give her confidence with other dogs and give owner support too - if she meets other dogs beforehand, perhaps keep them on lead to start with, and her off lead just so the situation can be gauged effectively. If she tries to hide under a chair, let her - it's very important she comes out in her own time. Good luck!

sorry deleted.

I don't know that much about any of the showing considerations, but Belgian shepherds are also built quite differently, they are very light and built on the square rather than the oblong (that's how I put it, it's probably not correct terminology!). I too did a double take when seeing the Crufts dog, and did think he looked "crippled" with very weak hindquarters in appearance, but am surprised to hear he has his Schutzhund 3 so I've learnt something there. GSDs were one of my first loves and I tend to like a very unexaggerated looking dog, with neither a banana back nor with very short legs. I tend to like those bred by working trials people very often. Just my opinion though!

Hope the interiew did go well! Oh, just seen you have got it, excellent 'Ello! back @ HLGS Lindsay x

So glad you made it safe to Uk Anne with all the doglets. I am dead chuffed about you getting an interview with Steve Mann, he is a fab trainer. Many good wishes for your interview! Lindsay xxx

Hi there, yes, it's corrrect that any individual can send in their comments about this, I will be doing so Wales is already committed to a ban but Scotland and England are dragging their feet a bit. It would be fantastic if the ban can be achieved - please guys, do take 15 minutes to write in! Lindsay xx

sorry posted twice!

Val Strong is a good behaviourist I'd say I met her on a course and she did know her stuff. Very no nonsense but very nice with it Lindsay x

I wish I'd seen that - well done to Scott Mills Lindsay x

Just wondering how often he gets fed? my dog has this problem and it starts if she's not fed a small meal before about 7.15am - feed her before this and she's fine. Lindsay x

Here's some info as to why alpha rolls are in fact very dangerous and confusing to the dog: http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2004/Debunking.pdf Lots of good info on there by very knowledgeable people explaining what alpha rolls actually mean to a dog - basically that its life is under threat. Alpha rolls are not used by wolves in the way some trainers have recommended them - they are either offered by one of the wolves, or, if actually given, can mean serious injury or death. Here's a training article re. food possession http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2...ectguarding.htm - this isn't a "how to do it" article really but shows how using careful managment and positive reinforcement the dog's attitude can be changed. I'd recommend still reputable behavioural help, though Lindsay x

I agree with the other posts - please don't let her use an alpha roll on this dog. It could end up being very dangerous. Basically, don't copy things seen on telly no matter who does them! and don't listen to people who are not genuinely experienced with "aggression". Whereabouts is your friend? I know good trainers in most areas so if you want, please PM and I'll try to suggest someone who could help Is the aggression only over food? If so then I'd suggest to your friend that she manages the situation at first and doesn't get into the situation, as the dog will only practice the behaviour. If the dog gets anything such as dropped treats, sacrifice them if she cannot take them safely just for the moment (until she gets reputable help) and that goes for any other food as well. There are many fantastic dogs who show possessiveness over food and they are helped to change their ways - previous persistent alpha rolling may mean that it is extremely difficult if not impossible to improve things and the dog may end up being put to sleep because some foolish person suggested the owners follow what was done on tv. One case where an owner was advised to alpha roll stands out in my memory, it was in Australia and the owner was advised by members of a dog forum to alpha roll her malamute. I can't recall what the dog was doing, to "warrant" this bizarre advice. The outcome was that she listened to the forum members, as most would; she rolled the dog who basically attacked her and bit her face and body. She ended up in hospital and of course the dog was destroyed. It's really not good training. There are some great books out there, Mine! and also Dogs are from Neptune both fab, the first a bit behaviouristy so I sometimes tend to recommend the second one as I think owners will be moreinclined to read it ... Best of luck with this, Lindsay x

Awful, those poor doglets ...why are people so wicked? Lindsay x

Well with her beautiful coat I'd want to give her a winter birthday just to be awkward Ann - are you sure Martin said it was in the summer? If it can't be winter I think she should also have it on June 21st as it sounds good for her Lindsay x

The MP who brought in the Private Members Bill did say that it was unlikely to become law because of the "procedures" which made Private Members bills very hard to get passed. It's important everyone understands that this is just a "hiccup" and she brought the bill to mainly keep the issue in the open so it wasn't forgotten. I recently wrote to DEFRA regarding an animal behaviourist who is pro collar, who they have invited to speak on such matters before now, and showed them that one of her quoted sources were horrified at her inability to interpret academic works regarding the use of e collars. Just one small thing but very satisfying as, the author of the original academic works and book on animal behaviour kindly emailed me and allowed me to quote her letter to DEFRA. She was angered and shocked at how her works had been misquoted and misinterpreted. I suggested to DEFRA that if this is the case with just one source, it may well be the case with others quoted by this person, as her skills are lacking and she has manipulated academic sources to her advantage and to those that support the use of the collars. I'm expecting to hear from them any day now So it's not a waste of time to keep fighting, but most of all if anyone is truly against them, write to Ben Bradshaw, write to your MP, and don't let up!! Lindsay xxx

I agree, the examples are ridiculous. Dogs have been known to bolt when electric collars are used - they could bolt into a road! As for shooting by farmers - either don't buy a dog when in an area where there are loads of sheep, OR use a lead and exercise elsewhere (ie drive!). There really is no excuse .

He also subjected a small dog with a physical problem with walking/moving to a terrible ordeal. He introduced it to his pack, (where it was terrified as it couldn't physically give any real signals due to not being able to move very well, so could not communicate with his dogs). He then tried to get it to swim - the poor dog was again terrified, it was desperately trying. I've been to dog hydro and it was nothing like this. At the end of 3 weeks he took this poor abused dog to the vet who told him it had a spinal disc problem and the vet advised immediate put to sleep. So the dog was subjected to 3 weeks of fear and then put to sleep - because of Milan and his pride. If he'd just had it checked out by the vet first, as decent behaviourists will do... this would have saved the dog pain. He also tried to treat a dog with OCD by punishing it

Replying purely on the basis of this post, it may be as has been suggested partly frustration - if he is there when Caleb is running free it wouldn't be unsual behaviour for the dog on lead to get nippy. It may be an idea to take him out separetly if that's possible...howwever, without seeing, it could also be that he's not comfortable with other dogs coming close whilst he's on lead (or even off lead?).

Bebe, IMO it's too early - wait for a few days and let her stress levels go down, don't try to do anything with her just now. There's an old saying about getting back on the horse after you've fallen - it never did me any good, I was much better if I waited a day or two. I suggest this may be the case with Ty too - give her time to "forget" a little and when you do go out start off as if nothing had happened. If she then gets scared, use clicker etc. RE the friend - well, she may be good as a friend but I suspect she didn't actually care if Ty was upset or not. Being old school she may have thought it would even do her good. I think her behaviour was actually not on - driving off without asking you, etc. She may even have thought it would be "good" for Ty. I'd make peace with her and rekindle the friendship but make it very clear she is not to do anything like that again.

This might be useful to you http://www.ukfssartdogteams.org.uk/weight_check.htm Lindsay x

What happened wasn't good, i agree, but until then I think the programme's been pretty ok. I like that it shows rescue dogs can be trained using reward based methods, and that it highlights rescue dogs can be fun. It shows dogs being normal and doing what dogs do, whether sweet and cuddly or barky or food guarding. (Showing food guarding wasn't a good thing though, as it was not a fair position for Casper, handler or trainer to be in). I guess in some ways the BBC is feeling to find out what people who are interested in dogs want - perhaps also the Dogs Trust isn't used to being involved with television. I think some slack should be cut - not saying concerns shouldn't be voiced as i think they definitely should, but I think this programme, along with the kids version of it, and The Dog House (on BBC 1 tonight) the BBC are doing OK. Regarding the Dogs Trust not having any say in what the tests are - they are perhaps relying on the judges to be the front line a bit. Judge Kay did suggest they remove Casper from the food which was the correct thing to say in my view, but being live tv it was difficult and I think it just wasn't thought through... Again, not saying it was handled as well as it should have been, certainly not, but everyone was having to think on their feet in front of the cameras. It should never have happened but hopefully they will learn from it. Casper is hopefully going home with the trainer so she won't be under any illusions as to what he's like Just my view